Drivers of suicide ‘varied and individual’

Suicide is not necessarily the result of mental health issues, says former coroner and director of the new Suicide Prevention Office.

After 12 years working as a coroner in hundreds of suicide cases, Carla na Nagara was announced last month as director of the newly formed office.

Na Nagara said one of her first priorities would be to deliver clear messages to the public and address the misconceptions of suicide.

‘‘One of the common misunderstandings, almost apprehensions, about suicide at a public level is that it’s only people with mental illness that end their lives,’’ na Nagara said.

‘‘As a former coroner I’m acutely aware that that’s not always the case, that people get distressed but that’s really different from being mentally ill.’’

The creation of a Suicide Prevention Office was announced in September with the task of reducing New Zealand’s suicide rate, by implementing Every Life Matters, the New Zealand Suicide prevention strategy and Action Plan.

This followed the release of suicide statistics in August, which showed 685 people dying in the year finishing June 30 – an increase of 2.5 per cent.

Na Nagara said it was important to view New Zealand’s suicide rate in its socio-cultural context, and not always as the result of mental illness.

‘‘My work as a coroner has given me a very broad insight into the drivers of suicide,’’ she said.

‘‘We talk about suicide sort of generically but actually each suicide occurs in its own particular set of facts and circumstances.’’

Na Nagara said the office would be influenced by voices from a broad range of communities throughout the country, including a Ma¯ ori advisory function to address high Ma¯ori suicide rates.

‘‘I am very aware that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to suicide prevention.

‘‘A key part of the office’s work will be to work with and identify communities and populations to work out what interventions are needed by them.’’

While the office would be housed within the Ministry of Health initially, na Nagara said it had its own voice and would one day be a separate body.

‘‘This is an acknowledgement of the fact that the solutions lie beyond the Ministry of Health,’’ she said.

‘‘Our suicide rate is not going to come down if everyone is just waiting for government departments to do it.

‘‘It can’t just be left to agencies, the solutions lie far beyond just the mental health sector.’’

A wellbeing practitioner has been introduced at some Marlborough GPS as part of a national initiative to improve access and choice in mental health support in the primary sector.

Wellbeing education campaigner Nadine Hickman had also advocated for better mental health education in schools.

Na Nagara said encouraging mental health education at a community level and increasing support in the primary sector, was an ‘‘extremely good idea’’.

The success of the office would be measured by a consistent reduction in New Zealand’s suicide rates, which were already lower than previously, she said.